Anti-Christian Children’s Novel Now a Time-Warner Film

The best selling novels of atheist author Philip Pullman which were written specifically to indoctrinate children with anti-Christian values, have sparked the creation of a controversial new fantasy film to be released this December 7 by New Line Cinema — a Time-Warner Company.

Starring Nicole Kidman, The Golden Compass, is based on Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, which includes Northern Lights (re-titled The Golden Spyglass in the United States), The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. Pullman wrote these books with the intention of indoctrinating children with atheistic values. While the full interpretation and presentation of the movie has not yet been seen, the books' underlying message promotes antagonism towards Christianity.

According to UK's Daily Mail, Pullman has repeatedly stated his belief that God is dead, and the author incorporates this theme into the second book when God dies. In 2000 Pullman also stated before an Oxford literary conference, "We're used to the Kingdom of Heaven; but you can tell from the general thrust of the book that I'm of the devil's party, like Milton. And I think it's time we thought about a republic of Heaven instead of the Kingdom of Heaven. The King is dead. That's to say I believe the King is dead."

He continued, "I'm an atheist. But we need Heaven nonetheless, we need all the things that Heaven meant, we need joy, we need a sense of meaning and purpose in our lives, we need a connection with the universe, we need all the things the Kingdom of Heaven used to promise us but failed to deliver."

Pullman and fellow children's author Michael Rosen produced a course on atheism for schools called "Why Atheism?" that is designed for children 11-years and older. Pullman told the Independent, "What I fear and deplore in the faith school camp is their desire to close argument down and put some things beyond question or debate. It's vital to get clear in young minds what is a faith position and what is not-so that, for instance, they won't be taken in by religious people claiming that science is a faith position no different in kind from Christianity."

The trilogy consistently gives a negative portrayal of the Catholic Church. Priests — one of whom is an assassin — are evil and violent while one positive character is an ex-nun who has lost her faith. There is even a pair of "sexually ambiguous" angels. The main problem, however, as one Amazon reviewer noted, is that "The evil in this story is God." The reviewer stated, "I realized part way through the second book, that the characters Lyra had been fighting against, and I had been rooting against were God, His Angels, and His followers."

According to the Brisbane Times, the Kidman denied that the film is anti-Catholic, stating that her Catholic faith affected her consideration for the film script. She claimed, "I was raised Catholic, the Catholic Church is part of my essence."

She continued, "I wouldn't be able to do this film if I thought it were at all anti-Catholic." According to Entertainment Weekly, the religious elements have been removed from the movie, as Kidman claimed, "It has been watered down a little." Nevertheless, the movie trailer introduces a world that is "dominated by the Magisterium, which seeks to control all humanity, and whose greatest threat, is the curiosity of a child."

In context of the anti-religious books, the movie is making an obvious negative parallel with the Catholic Church. The dark and evil organization called "the Magisterium" in the film has the same name as the body that makes up the Catholic Church's teaching authority — the bishops in union with the Pope. The Magesterium in the film kidnaps children in order to take out their souls, CathNews reports.

Towards the end of the trailer, the voice-over states, "The magisterium seeks to control every world, every universe. Nothing will stop them from trying to take over."

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Most self-described atheists seem to be "anti-theists" in that they are not merely people whose belief systems are lacking God, but are actively antagonistic to any belief in God.

And we, as "pro-theists", need to make it known to these antitheists that we know who they are and what they are about without mincing words.

Guest

If all reports are that the movie has removed the religious over and undertones of the book, why is there an article about the movie? Why not just keep it on the book, and it's negative undertones?

There was not this same sort of outrage when "Children of Men" was adapted from a brilliant post-apocalyptic pro-life book to the self-serving immigration tale that completely bastardized PD James' intent.

Guest

I know one of the reasons I'm concerned about the movie existing. The bookstores will treat the movie as extended free advertising for the books, just as they've done with the Tolkin movies and the Narnia movie. This tendency seems to be stronger with books that could be considered in some sense for children or young adults.

My esteemed MIL bought my oldest a hardcover collection of the Narnia books without knowing more then that they were books currently popularized because of the movie and that they were 'classics'.

She bought my youngest brother a collection of the Harry Potter books for much the same reasons. I would not be surprised if she ended up buying the Pullman books for a child that she knows since they have won awards and are being presented as children's 'literature' and will be popularized due to the movie.

I am certain that my MIL is not the only person who wants to foster reading in the young people she knows and who doesn't know enough about current children/young adult books to be wary.

Emily

Guest

God loves you .

I think my general tolerance of atheists – they’re so cute when they’re asleep, aren’t they – betrays an open mind about them, for they have little to fill any mind attuned to God.

However, their decided, vocal and published anti-Christian and anti-religious ‘sect’ seems about as closed in mind as any to which they can object.

Remember, I love you, too

Reminding that we are all on the same side – His,

Pristinus Sapienter

(wljewell @catholicexchange.com or … yahoo.com)

Guest

Very happy to read this review. Somehow, a copy of this book found its way in to my hands. I was going to give it to my nieces or nephews, but would not do so without reading it. Yet, I haven't had a chance to read it. Somehow, I didn't think it would be good.

Atheists are evil and destructive. They violate the first commandment.

Guest

I have great respect for honest atheists. They're willing to face all this alone, and that takes courage and perseverance. Hopefully they'll come around. In any event, if we don't want our children to read the books, then don't buy them. If they are a gift, then like any other inappropriate gift, they should be quietly put away and forgotten.

I suppose they could be ritually burned, but that connotes some nasty things from days past. I suggest tossing them in the trash.

God doesn't want us to hate people we disagree with and call them names or accuse them of things that really are not true. He wants us to love them and be a good example to them. At least, that's my understanding of the whole thing.

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